Furrow opener disc with notches

Abstract

An agricultural row unit has: a frame (110); a trench opening assembly (120) configured to reclaim a trench (104) in a soil surface when the trench opening assembly (120) is moved in a forward direction of travel (D); the groove opening assembly (120) includes a first disc (62), wherein the first disc (62) is notched and has teeth (64) between the notches (63); a seed conduit (130) configured to deposit a seed into the groove (104); and a groove closure assembly (146) for closing the groove (104).

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 63 / 375,139 filed on September 9, 2022; U.S. Application No. 63 / 375,143 filed on September 9, 2022; U.S. Application No. 63 / 385,568 filed on November 30, 2022; U.S. Application No. 63 / 434,649 filed on December 22, 2022; U.S. Application No. 63 / 434,649 filed on December 22, 2022; No. 4659; U.S. Application No. 63 / 434,667, filed on December 22, 2022; U.S. Application No. 63 / 434,671, filed on December 22, 2022; U.S. Application No. 63 / 501,172, filed on May 10, 2023; and priority to U.S. Application No. 63 / 504,352, filed on May 25, 2023, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to notched opener disks. Background Art

[0004] A planter with a pair of opener disks or an air seeder with a single disk opener creates a furrow in the soil for depositing seeds in the furrow, which is then closed to surround the seeds with soil. The opener disk has a continuous edge of constant radius to form a stable furrow that remains open until the furrow is closed. Summary of the invention

[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, an agricultural row unit is provided, comprising: a frame; a groove opening assembly configured to open a groove in a soil surface when the groove opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel; the groove opening assembly includes a first disk, wherein the first disk is notched and has teeth between the notches; a seed conduit configured to deposit seeds into the groove; and a groove closing assembly for closing the groove.

[0006] Within the scope of the present application, it should be understood that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set forth herein and their individual features may be employed independently or in any possible and compatible combination. Where features are described with reference to a single aspect or embodiment, it should be understood that these features are applicable to all aspects and embodiments unless otherwise stated or these features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] One or more embodiments of the present invention / disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 A side view of a row unit.

[0009] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A side view of a row unit with some components removed.

[0010] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A stereogram of a row unit.

[0011] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A perspective view of a row unit with some components removed for viewing.

[0012] Figure 5 A side view of a component including a slotted opener disc.

[0013] Figure 6 A perspective view of a notched opener disc.

[0014] Figure 7 for Figure 8 Side view of a notched opener disc.

[0015] Figure 8 for Figure 8 Front view of the notched opener disc.

[0016] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 Rear view of the notched opener disc. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entirety. If there is a conflict between a definition herein and a definition in a cited reference, the definition herein shall control.

[0018] The row unit 10 includes a frame 14 that moves in a forward direction of travel D. The row unit 10 includes a furrowing disc assembly 60. For an air seeder row unit, there is one furrowing disc. For a seeder, the furrowing disc assembly includes two angled furrowing discs 62 that are rollably mounted to a downwardly extending shank 15 of the frame 14 and are configured to create a V-shaped groove 104 in the soil surface as the row unit 10 passes through the field. For an air seeder row unit, there is one gauge wheel. For a seeder, the row unit 10 includes a gauge wheel assembly 50 that includes two gauge wheels 52 that are pivotally mounted to either side of the frame 14 by two gauge wheel arms 54 and are configured to roll along the soil surface. Depth adjustment assembly 90 pivotally mounted to frame 14 at pivot 92 preferably contacts depth gauge wheel arm 54 to limit upward travel of depth gauge wheel arm 54, thereby limiting the depth of the trench opened by trenching disc assembly 60. Closure assembly 40 is coupled to frame 14 and is configured to move soil back into the trench.

[0019] The depth adjustment assembly 90 includes a rocker arm 95 pivotally mounted to a depth adjustment body 94. The depth adjustment body 94 is pivotally mounted to the row unit frame 14 about a pivot axis 92. A handle 98 is preferably slidably received within the depth adjustment body 94 so that a user can selectively engage and disengage the handle with one of a plurality of depth adjustment slots formed in the row unit frame 14. In operation, upward travel of the depth gauge wheels 52 is limited by contact of the depth gauge wheel arms 54 with the rocker arm 95. When one depth gauge wheel (e.g., the left depth gauge wheel 52-1) encounters an obstruction, the rocker arm 95 permits the left depth gauge wheel arm 54-1 to travel upward while simultaneously lowering the right depth gauge wheel 52-2 by the same absolute displacement to raise the row unit 10 by half the height of the obstruction.

[0020] The seeds are transferred from the hopper 12 to a seed meter 30, which is configured to singulate the supplied seeds. In one embodiment, the seed meter 30 is a vacuum-type meter, such as the vacuum-type meter disclosed in the applicant's International Patent Publication No. WO / 2012 / 129442. In operation, the seed meter 30 preferably deposits the supplied seeds into a seed conduit 32, such as a seed tube. Preferably, the seed tube 32 is removably mounted to the frame 14. In operation, the seeds deposited by the meter 30 fall into the groove through the seed tube 32.

[0021] In other embodiments, the seed tube 32 can be a seed orientation tube, wherein the seed travels along the surface of the seed orientation tube, and the air flowing through the seed orients the seed. Examples of orientation systems include PCT Publication Nos. WO2018013858A1, WO2018013859A1, WO2018013860A2, and WO2018013861A1. A particular type of seed orientator is described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. US2020 / 0367425A1 and US2022 / 0192079A1.

[0022] In another embodiment, a sub-furrow opener 70 may be optionally included. The sub-furrow opener 70 is connected to the row unit 14, for example, to the handle 15. The sub-furrow opener 70 is arranged behind the furrowing disc assembly 60 in the furrows reclaimed by the furrowing disc assembly 60. The sub-furrow opener 70 can produce a more compact furrow so that the seeds deposited in the furrow are restricted from moving to maintain their orientation in the furrow. The seed tube 32 can deposit seeds into the furrow after the sub-furrow opener 70.

[0023] Figure 6-Figure 9 The slotted opener disk 62 is illustrated. The slotted opener disk 62 has a plurality of slots 63 (63-1 to 63-18). Although 18 slots are illustrated, the slotted opener disk 62 may have any number of slots 63. Between successive slots 63 are teeth 64. As illustrated, there are 18 teeth 64 (64-1 to 64-18). Optionally, the teeth 64 may have tapers 65 (65-1 to 65-18). Although illustrated as having tapers 65 on one side of the teeth 64, both sides of the teeth 64 may have tapers 65. When one taper 65 is present, the slotted opener disk 62 may be oriented on the row unit 14 so that the taper 65 is disposed on the slotted opener disk 62 on a side away from the row unit 14. Although illustrated as being flat, the notched opener disk 62 may be concave.

[0024] The notched opener disc 62 can create furrows where the sub-furrow openers 70 can create sub-furrows without the sub-furrow openers 70 having to do all the work, which would result in more wear on the sub-furrow openers 70 .

[0025] Example

[0026] The following are non-limiting examples.

[0027] Example 1 - An agricultural row unit comprising: a frame; a groove opening assembly, the groove opening assembly being configured to open a groove in the soil surface when the groove opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel; the groove opening assembly comprising a first disk, wherein the first disk is slotted and has teeth between the slots; a seed conduit, the seed conduit being configured to deposit seeds into the groove; and a groove closing assembly for closing the groove.

[0028] Example 2 - The agricultural row unit of Example 1, wherein the groove opening assembly includes a second disk.

[0029] Example 3 - The agricultural row unit of Example 2, wherein the second disk is notched and has teeth between the notches.

[0030] Example 4 - An agricultural row unit according to any preceding example, wherein the first disk is flat.

[0031] Example 5 - An agricultural row unit according to any of Examples 1 to 3, wherein the first disk is concave.

[0032] Example 6 - An agricultural row unit according to any preceding example, wherein the teeth on the first disk are tapered.

[0033] Example 7 - An agricultural row unit according to any of Examples 3 to 6, wherein the second disk is flat.

[0034] Example 8 - An agricultural row unit according to any of Examples 3 to 6, wherein the second disk is concave.

[0035] Example 9 - An agricultural row unit according to any of Examples 3 to 8, wherein the teeth on the second disk are tapered.

[0036] Example 10 - The agricultural row unit of any preceding example, further comprising a sub-furrow opener connected to the frame and disposed rearwardly of the furrow opening assembly.

[0037] Example 11 - The agricultural row unit of Example 10, wherein the seed conduit deposits seed behind the sub-furrow opener.

[0038] Example 12 - The agricultural row unit of any preceding example, further comprising a seed meter connected to the frame and in fluid communication with the seed conduit.

[0039] Example 13 - The agricultural row unit of any preceding example, wherein the seed conduit is a seed orienting conduit configured to orient the seed as it travels along the seed orienting conduit.

Claims

1. An agricultural row unit, comprising: frame; a trench opening assembly configured to open a trench in a soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel; The groove opening assembly includes a first disk, wherein the first disk is notched and has teeth between the notches; a seed conduit configured to deposit seeds into the groove; as well as A groove sealing assembly is provided for sealing the groove.

2. The agricultural row unit of claim 1, wherein: The groove opening assembly includes a second disc.

3. The agricultural row unit of claim 2, wherein: The second disk is notched and has teeth between the notches.

4. An agricultural row unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first plate is flat.

5. The agricultural row unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first disc is concave.

6. An agricultural row unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The teeth on the first disk are tapered.

7. The agricultural row unit according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein: The second plate is flat.

8. The agricultural row unit according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein: The second disc is concave.

9. The agricultural row unit according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein: The teeth on the second disc are tapered.

10. The agricultural row unit of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sub-furrow opener connected to the frame and disposed rearwardly of the furrow opening assembly.

11. The agricultural row unit of claim 10, wherein: The seed conduit deposits seed behind the sub-furrow openers.

12. The agricultural row unit of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a seed meter connected to the frame and in fluid communication with the seed conduit.

13. An agricultural row unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The seed conduit is a seed orienting conduit configured to orient seeds as they travel along the seed orienting conduit.

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